Fluid pressure medium dispensing means



Nov. 29, 1949 J. H. STROOP FLUID PRESSURE MEDiUM DISPENSING MEANS Filed D ec. 2, 1944 3nventor win $1465 my;

attorney Patented Nov. 29, i949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE John H. Stroop, New York, N. Y., assignor to Specialties Development Corporation, Bloomfield, N. J a corporation of New Jersey Application December 2, 1944, Serial No. 566,344

17 Claims,

The present invention relates to fluid medium dispensing means, and more particularly to the discharge of a fire extinguishing medium, such as carbon dioxide, or the like.

The present invention is concerned with apparatus for discharging fluid medium under pressure from a suitable source wherein the discharge is controlled by a valve provided with an operating member and the discharged medium is directed to its point of application by a device, such as a snow forming horn or shield, which is supported on a bracket adjacent the valve when not in, use.

An object of the present invention is to provide apparatus of the foregoing character, wherein the fluid medium directing means serves to retain the operating member to prevent actuation thereof when the directing means are not in use.

Another object is to provide apparatus of the foregoing character, wherein the bracket and horn cooperate to retain the operating member to prevent actuation of the valve unless the horn is removed from the bracket.

Another object is to provide improvements of the foregoing character which may be utilized in connection with portable containers.

Another object is to provide improvements of the foregoing character wherein the horn and bracket cooperate to retain the operating member in a manner to enable the operating member to be utilized as a carrying handle for a portable container.

A further object consists in the combination and arrangement of parts whereby the foregoing A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and de v scription and is shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

Figure 1.is an elevational view of a portable container embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view, taken substantially along the line 22 on Figure 1, and, in addition, illustrating means for locking the horn to the bracket,

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional View of the upper end of a container showing the valve and valve actuating means.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a container [0, which may be in the form of a portable cylinder adapted tocontain a fluid medium under pressure, for example, carbon dioxide to be used for fire extinguishing purposes. The lower end or base I I of the container is substantially flat to facilitate standing the container on the floor or the like, and the upper end of the container is provided with a neck portion l2 having an opening I3 for receiving discharge controlling means such as a valve M.

The valve comprises a body having an inlet in communication with the interior of the container, an outlet, a valve seat I5 intermediate the inlet and outlet, and a valve member I! normally retained on the seat by a spring l9 to confine the fluid medium within the container. The valve member is adapted to be unseated by a cam 21.

The valve further comprises an operating member. lever or handle operatively connected to the cam 21 for rotating the same to effect unseating of the valve member H to control the discharge of the fluid medium from the container. The operating member, as shown, is substantially inverted U-shaped in form, and comprises a leg 2| pivotally mounted on the valve body on the same shaft as the cam 21, a second leg 22 having an extension 24 for the purpose described hereinafter, and an intermediate portion 25 serving as means for manually grasping the operating member.

The fluid medium, in the case of carbon dioxide, is discharged or directed to its point of use by means of a flared snow forming horn or shield connected to the outlet of the valve [4 by a hose or flexible conduit 3|. Adjacent its inlet end, the horn is provided with upper and lower outwardly extending flanges 32 and 33 spaced apart by a substantially cylindrical zone 34 (Figure 2), the purpose of which will be described hereinafter.

The horn is attached to the side of the container by a bracket 35 having one end secured to the neck l2 of the container and having its outward end extending laterally from the container. The outward end of the bracket is provided with a pair of bifurcated, spring clamping fingers 36 adapted to receive and clamp the cylindrical zone 34 of the horn, whereby the horn is supported by the bracket, preferably with the outlet end of the horn facing downwardly.

The clamping fingers 36 are so positioned that the extension 24 of the operating member 28 is adjacent the space between the fingers when the operating member is in valve closing position as shown in the drawing. When the operating member is in this position the upper flange 32 of the horn overlies and engages the extension 24 to retain the same and to thereby prevent actuation of the operating member so long as the horn is attached to the bracket.

The lower flange 33 of the horn engages the lower edges of the clamping fingers 36 and prevents upward movement of the horn with respect to the bracket. By reason of this cooperation the upper flange 32 forms a substantially rigid stop for the extension 24 of the operating member, thus making it possible to grasp the intermediate portion 25 and carry the container without effecting pivotal movement of the operating member to effect opening of the valve.

The horn may be locked to the bracket by a pin 40, or the like, extending through apertures formed in the fingers 36, whereby the horn cannot be removed from the bracket unless the pin is withdrawn. One end of the pin may be provided with a ring shaped portion M for facilitating withdrawal of the pin and the pin may be attached to the bracket by a seal wire 42 or the like to prevent accidental displacement of the pin and to discourage unauthorized removal thereof.

In using the apparatus, the portion 25 is adapted to be utilized as a carrying handle when the operating member is locked by the horn as shown. When it is desired to discharge the container the seal wire is broken, the pin is withdrawn, and the horn is removed from the bracket, thereby releasing the extension 24 and permitting the operating member to be rocked upwardly and towards the left as shown in the drawing to effect opening of the valve.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the present invention provides novel means for retaining fluid medium discharge means in closed position. In addition, the invention en ables the operating handle to be utilized as a carrying handle, thus eliminating the necessity of separate valve operating means and carrying handle. The means providing the foregoing features are simple and rugged in construction, effective in operation, and can withstand the rough usage to which they may be subjected.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

I claim:

1. In combination, a container for a fluid medium under pressure, fluid medium discharge controlling means including an operating mem ber, bracket means on said container, and fluid medium directing means adapted to be supported by said bracket means, said fluid medium directing means engaging said operating member when said directing means is supported by said bracket means and cooperating with the latter to lock said operating member against actuation.

I 2. In combination, a container for a fluid medium under pressure, a valve on said container for controlling the discharge of the fluid medium, a lever for operating said valve, a bracket on said container, and a discharge horn supported by said bracket, said horn engaging said lever when said horn is supported by said bracket and cooperating with the latter to lock said lever against actuation.

3. In combination, a container for a fluid medium under pressure, a valve on said conat said outlet for controlling the discharge of the fluid medium, a, handle member for operating said valve having an extension, a bracket secured to said container adjacent said outlet, and. a discharge horn adapted to be supported by said bracket having means cooperating with said bracket and including a flange overlying said extension when said horn is supported on said bracket to lock said handle member against actuation.

5. In combination, a container for fluid medium under pressure having a neck portion at its upper end provided with a discharge outlet, a valve at said outlet for controlling the discharge of the fluid medium, a handle member for operating said valve having an extension, a bracket secured to said neck portion and extending laterally therefrom and having a clamping means at its outward end positioned to be adjacent said extension when said handle member is in valve closing position, and a discharge horn adapted to be supported by said clamping means having a flange positioned above said clamping.

means and overlying said extension when said horn is supported by said clamping means to prevent actuation of said handle member.

6. In combination, a container for afluid medium under pressure, fluid medium discharge controlling means including an operating member, bracket means on said container, and fluid medium directing means adapted to be supported by said bracket means, said fluid medium directing means engaging said operating member when said directing means is supported by said bracket means to prevent actuation of said operating member, said bracket means and said directing means including means cooperating to retain said directing means in position to engage said operating member.

'7. In combination, a container for a fluid medium under pressure, a valve on said container for controlling the discharge of the fluid medium, a handle member for operating said valve having an extension thereon, a bracket on said container, and a discharge horn adapted to be supported by said bracket having a portion overlying said extension when said horn is supported by said bracket to prevent actuation of said handle member, said horn having a second portion cooperating with said bracket to maintain said first portion thereof in its said position with respect to said extension whereby said han dle member is adapted for carrying said container. I

8. In combination, a container for a fluid medium under pressure having an outlet, a valve at said outlet for controlling the discharge of the fluid medium, a handle member for operating said valve having an extension, a bracket secured to said container adjacent said outlet, and a discharge horn adapted to be supported by said bracket having a flange overlying said bracket and said extension when said horn is supported on said bracket to prevent actuation of said handle member, said horn having a second flange underlying said bracket to maintain said first flange thereof in its said position with respect to said extension whereby said handle member is adapted for carrying said container.

9. In combination, a container for fluid medium under pressure having a neck portion at its upper end provided with a discharge outlet, a valve at said outlet for controlling the discharge of the fluid medium, a handle member for operating said valve having an extension, a bracket secured to said neck portion and extending laterally therefrom and having a clamping means at its outward end positioned to be adjacent said extension when said handle member is in valve closing position, and a discharge horn adapted to be supported by said clamping means having a flange positioned above said clamping means and overlying said extension when said horn is supported by said clamping means, to prevent actuation of said handle member, said horn having a second flange positioned beneath said clamping means and cooperating therewith to maintain said first flange thereof in its said position with respect to said extension whereby said handle member is adapted for carrying said container.

10. In combination, fluid medium discharge controlling means including an operating member, bracket means adjacent said controlling means, and fluid medium directing means adapted to be supported by said bracket means, said fluid medium directing means engaging said operating member when said directing means is supported by said bracket means and cooperatsing with the latter to lock said operating member against actuation.

11. In combination, a fluid medium discharge controlling valve, a member for operating said valve having an extension thereon, a bracket adjacent said valve, and a discharge horn supported by said bracket having means cooperating with said bracket and including a portion overlying said extension when said horn is supported by said bracket to lock said operating member against actuation.

12. In combination, a fluid medium discharge controlling valve, a lever for operating said valve having an extension, a bracket secured adjacent said valve and extending laterally therefrom and having clamping means at its outward end positioned to be adjacent said extension when said lever is in valve closing position, and a discharge horn adapted to be supported by said clamping means having a flange positioned above said clamping means and overlying said extension when said horn is supported by said clamping means to prevent actuation of said lever.

13. In combination, a fluid medium discharge controlling valve, a member for operating said valve having an extension thereon, a bracket adjacent said valve, a discharge horn supported by said bracket having a portion overlying said extension when said horn is supported by said bracket to prevent actuation of said operating member, and means for locking said horn to said bracket.

14. In combination, a container for a fluid medium under pressure, fluid medium discharge controlling means including an operating member, bracket means on said container, fluid medium directing means adapted to be supported by said bracket means, said fluid medium directing means engaging said operating member when said directing means is supported by said bracket means to prevent actuation of said operating member, and means for locking said fluid medium directing means to said bracket means.

15. In combination, a container for fluid medium under pressure having a neck portion at its upper end provided with a discharge outlet, avalve at said outlet for controlling the discharge of the fluid medium, a handle member for operating said valve having an extension, a bracket secured to said neck portion and extending laterally therefrom and. having a clamping means at its outward end positioned to be adjacent said extension when said handle member is in valve closing position, a discharge horn adapted to be supported by said clamping means having a flange positioned above said clamping means and overlying said extension when said horn is supported by said clamping means, to prevent actuation of said handle member, said horn having a second flange positioned beneath said clamping means and cooperating therewith to maintain said first flange thereof in its said position with respect to said extension whereb said handle member is adapted for carrying said container, a pin. extending through the outward ends of said clamping means, and a seal wire for retaining said pin.

16. In combination, a container for a fluid medium under pressure, a fluid medium discharge controlling valve, and means for operating said valve and providing a carrying handle for the container including a movable element for operating said valve, fluid medium directing means, and an element for locking said movable element in valve closing position, said operating means forming a hand grip which in said valve closing position of the movable element extends across the top of the container locked by said locking element in container carrying condition and substantially centered laterally relative to a normally vertical axis of the container through the center of gravity of the container.

17 In combination, a container for a fluid medium under pressure, a fluid medium discharge controlling valve, a valve operating member, fluid medium directing means, supporting means for said directing means carried by the container, and complementary locking means carried by said directing means and cooperating with said supporting means for locking said operating member relative to the container in position closing said valve and movable to release said operating member for valve opening movement.

JOHN H. STROOP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France Feb. 14, 1908 Number Number 

